MACKWORTHRAM

Something has to happen this week. The accounts are out. So we'll know one thing or another.

Would be lovely to hear from our chairman.

More chance of us winning the league than hearing from that bloke.

Think to let the fans know what is going on would take caring and I think we've all established he doesn't care about us.

Roos - 5 - Probably one of the only goalkeepers I've seen that doesn't look like they like to use their hands. Nearly let one in from 40 yards out which was straight at him. Almost lumped it into Marriott a few times by taking much longer than he needs to on the ball. Almost cost us a goal too. Said it before and I'll say it again. Nowhere near good enough. Our best keeper is 3rd choice. 

Byrne - 2 - Woeful. Not sure what's being asked of him. But he was barely at right back. Gives so much space away and balls just get lofted over the top. The defending for that second goal was unforgivable. Poor first game too.

Davies - 6 - Did ok. But got in a massive mess with Bird that led to their first goal. Comedy of errors. 

Stearman - 6 - Can't really think of anything he did drastically wrong. But he's part of an experienced back 4 which conceded 2 goals which wouldn't have looked out of place on the park on a Sunday.

Forsyth - 4 - Not sure what he was doing for their first goal. He's nowhere near good enough. 3 cruciate injuries. Great servant. Don't like to criticize too much. Just not good enough anymore.

Shinnie - 5 - First half was poor but thought he improved second half. Him and Bird doesn't work together though. Both slow, both left footed. 

Bird - 6 - Thought he broke the play up well. Better than Shinnie today. Still needs to move the ball quicker. But the same can be said for everyone.

Morrison - 6 - Showed some nice touches. Not sure if he's been told to drop deep, which if he has, doesn't make sense. Because clearly his talents are much more suited to a number 10 role.

Lawrence - 3 - Not sure what he's offering. Rooney wants him to score more goals. So not sure why he's dropping so deep to get the ball. Doing the work of Shinnie and Bird. If anything sums him up. It's probably having a shot from 50 yards instead of passing to an open Morrison to let him run at the defender.

Ebosele - 4 - Probably ran at them once and got a foul. They were touch tight to him. Said before. Plays a good game against Salford and everyone jumps on the hype saying he should start. He's got massive potential. But he's not ready yet. He's explosive and I said before would rather have seen him come on against tired full backs.

Kazim-Richards - 4 - The ball didn't stick to him at all today. Not that it would have made any different when the players you want round him (Lawrence and Morrison) are playing holding midfield with our 2 other CDMs. Shame he's injured. But with him being the one player we can't afford to lose, it was inevitable something would happen. It's us.

Sibley - 6 - Came on and got at them. Sick of hearing this Rooney can't trust him lark. He's the only player we have that drives and puts defenders on the back foot. He needs to start for me.

Jozwiak - 0 - Don't normally give anyone a rating who came on in the 87th minute. But he was fast asleep for their goal and didn't look remotely interested either. He probably doesn't want to be here and I can't blame him. If we were in any position to let someone go. I'm pretty sure he'd be gone. He's not a championship player. Can see him going somewhere else abroad and doing well. Still absolutely no idea why he came on in the 87th minute at 1-0 up. Makes no sense.

First half was absolutely dire. We've played against a team who have conceded 7 goals in 2 games. And the way we set up was embarrassing. Slow, laboured, never got at them. There's no attacking threat. I didn't see the goals when they lost in the cup. But the Luton game. All 3 goals were from crosses and we didn't put one in.

Second half was better. Mainly due to the introduction of Sibley. Who got at them. We actually got in positions 2 or 3 times where we could slip someone through but the final ball, as ever, was woeful. 

It's not all the managers fault. With the circumstances he's got to work in and I feel for him.

But he has to shoulder some of the blame here. He says he's got a way of playing but I have no idea what it is. 

All the issues are still there from last season. Going 1-0 up and going on to lose.

We never get at teams and look to go 1, then 2, then 3 up.

Unless things are sorted quickly. We are absolutely finished.

Mel Morris has to do something this week to try and save this football club.

It's on its knees.

If he can sit back and accept this then I don't believe it.

Probably looks unlikely that CKR will play again this season.

So now Stretton is our only striker.

We're finished.

If this is our squad we're done.

The manager is tactically inept. How many times under him have we been 1-0 up and lost the game?

No idea what our plan was that game. Almost playing with 6 in midfield at times.

The mess before their first goal started with Forsyth not even trying to win the header and the lack of effort from Jozwiak to even stop their player was a joke. His reaction when they scored to, didn't look remotely bothered.

Where was the logic in bringing Jozwiak on right at the end? 

The second goal is disgraceful too. Davies and Bird going for the same ball and what Byrne was doing is anyone's guess. Just put your foot through it. 

There's no doubt in my mind we will go down.

I can't see anyone coming in, we can't even afford working TVs, staff in the ticket office, roadriders. So how we going to pay wages?

We have just played against a team who have conceded 7 goals in 2 games.

Please someone explain why we didn't go at them from the start.

What has Sibley got to do to start a game?

This is exactly what the issue is. 

One injury and we're in serious trouble. 

We have to get things sorted behind the scenes and get players in.

3 minutes ago, Silko said:

We still look far better than we did for almost all of last season …. Same problem though nothing up front at all 

Doesn't matter who's up front when the build up play is almost at walking pace.

And 2 of your better attacking options in Lawrence and Morrison are spending most of the game in the opposition half.

Peterborough conceded 3 goals first game. All came from crosses.

We've not put a cross in yet. 

I have no idea what the game plan or tactics are here.

Which is pretty much continuing on from last season.

25 minutes ago, WestLondonRam said:

I decided Tuesday Night and tried to buy them then, I was going and that wasn't last minute Just DCFC not wanting to sell tickets for some strange reason

None of it makes sense mate.

It's nothing to do with covid.

It makes no sense at all not having the ticket office open when the season had started.

I've had so many issues getting tickets online it's ridiculous.

The fact we're the only club in the country that hasn't got season tickets on sale doesn't make sense either

5 minutes ago, SamUltraRam said:

Don't think that we sold out but the club stopped selling them at midday on Wednesday as they had to post them out.

Bought mine Wednesday morning, arrived yesterday

Another massive issue with not having the ticket office open. Missed out on 2 days of sales.

A lot of people decide to go last minute. 

It's also worth noting with Marriott that he didn't just play under Lampard here.

He played under Cocu who also didn't pick him.

He's played with Rooney and under Rooney.

Last season, despite the fact that we couldn't score goals from open play to save our lives, Rooney still didn't recall him in January despite having the option to.

He also went to Sheffield Wednesday and barely got a look in there despite their troubles. 

Infact this article below just shows how bad he was there. He played under 4 managers at Wednesday.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/jack-marriott-sheffield-wednesday-bates-20387225

What happens if we get to the deadline on August 18th and the EFL still don't agree?

Hopefully these are being checked legally so we know beforehand whether or not the EFL have a leg to stand on.

I think we would have resubmitted them to the EFL and we are fine. Seeing this the EFL (probably expecting we wouldn't be and they would finally get the points deduction they so desperately crave)

Because if we had submitted them and breached the rules I'm sure the EFL would have took great delight in handing us a big points deduction.

What does concern me slightly is that season tickets go on sale on the 18th August.

I'm hoping this is just a coincidence but this is Derby County we are talking about so that's highly unlikely.

My worry is that by the 18th August we will know and if we are going to fall foul and get a 9-12 point deduction, some fans might stay away and not get the season ticket.

So Derby are essentially saying. Look this is it, we're getting deducted points, you know what's happening, everything is out in the open and there is nothing left to hide.

So now you know. It's entirely up to you whether or not to get the season ticket.

Does anyone know if this will be on the red button?

1 hour ago, Eatonram said:

Never an opportunity goes by................

Absolutely right and nor they should be.

He's ruined us.

Rooney here talking again about the need for help, emphasising that we won't compete in this division without it, saying that he doesn't want to kill their careers before they have even started. This is what happens when young kids get thrown in before they are ready.

Rooney said at the end of last season that this cannot go on and somehow we are still here.

From a team on the brink of promotion to where we are now.

So absolutely Mel Morris deserves criticism at every opportunity.

The silence is deafening. When things are going well Mel is everywhere. On the sportscene talk in, on talksport, at fans forums, on RamsTV. 

When we need the owner the most to communicate with us he is nowhere to be seen or heard.

Rooney has to front up post match and pre match. As he states there he doesn't know, these questions aren't for him. They are for the owner.

But the owner doesn't want to communicate to the fans.

So we are left not having a clue what is going on.

What is a shame us Mel goes on about the academy so often.

We have 2 in Cashin and Thompson who aren't able to play for the first team because we haven't sorted anything out yet.

Thanks again Mel.

                  Roos

Byrne Davies Stearman Buchanan

                Shinnie

    Morrison.         Sibley

Jozwiak.    CKR.    Lawrence.

Obviously Buchanan is doubtful. So Forsyth left back if he is.

Peterborough have conceded 7 goals in 2 games so I'd like to see us play a bit more attacking and play one CDM. Can always have Morrison drop back if needed. 

I get the people saying Ebosele should start.

I just think impact off the bench against tired full backs could be better.

Jozwiak needs games to build up his match fitness.

FWIW I think Rooney will play Bird and there's no chance he'll play Sibley.

Enjoyed watching the young lads tonight.

Winning the game in that way will do them the world of good.

But Mel Morris cannot allow this to be our squad for the season, he has to get things sorted and it has to happen now.

Some of these young players have so much potential but the majority aren't ready yet and could get ruined by being thrown in to early.

We are 2 centre back injuries from having Forsyth and Brown as out centre half pairing. 

I'm all for having 3-4 young lads in the squad on a match Day if needs be. I think Watson, Ebosele, Williams have a lot of potential. Players like Stretton are crying out to be loaned out to a league 2 club to get that experience.

It really is imperative that we sort out whatever needs sorting to allow Rooney to bring in who he needs to, because if not we can't afford an injury or a suspension this season.

The EFL aren't coming out of this good at all are they.

3 minutes ago, ollycutts1982 said:

As far as I am aware Cashin isn't classed as professional standing as he hasn't made an appearance (league/cup) yet.

Yes but as soon as he does the he then he will.

So say Derby sold Marshall for example.

We wouldn't be able to sign anyone else as Cashin would have taken that spot.

That's why he didn't come off the bench on Saturday.

4 minutes ago, europia said:

Absolutely spot on !!

Couldn't agree more either. 

This is not a criticism of David. He's going what he thinks is right. 

I am to be told I am wrong. But if at the meeting Mel has answered questions he can answer and then refused to answer anything he can't. Then I'm not sure why the minutes need to he submitted back to the club for them to check on what he can and cannot say?

But either way. I think we've all established that the meeting was to please the EFL.

If Mel honestly cared about the supporters he would have spoke to all of us either on Radio Derby or a recorded interview with RamsTV.

But why should we be surprised? Mel Morris took over this club after we lost to QPR. 

He thought this would be easy enough. Get us up in 3 years. No problem. 

Being a successful businessman is one thing, being a football club owner is another. 

Everything he has done is wrong.

We have gone from being a well run club, getting 27-30k every week.

To a club who has started the season with-

A bench full of academy players.

Fans that don't know if a player can come on the pitch or not because it might take up a space!

No season tickets

No ticket office, no way to get through by phone. Only way is to hope it works online and that you've got a printer at home (which I imagine a lot of people don't) this would have had a massive impact on the crowd on Saturday. I know people that couldnt get it to work and never got a response to emails sent. I mean I had to register with a different email and start again to get my tickets to go through.

A club that fans look at and say we deserve it.

He criticizes the fact we've don't have enough academy players coming through. But sells Gordon and Delap for peanuts. (£1.5 million for Delap is criminal) all it takes is for a player like Delap to come through the academy 18/19 and have a good season or 2 of 15-20 goals and you're talking 20 million. (Look at Adam Armstrong. They're talking 20 million for him after one good season)

Happily sanctions signing a player like Scott Malone for £3.5 million and block the path of Lowe and Buchanan. Rather than a loan to cover until they are ready.

When you look at where we were to where we are now. 

He has absolute ruined this football club.

And the fact that he doesn't have the decency to even acknowledge the whole supporter base sums the bloke up.

I heard today from someone in the pub talking how they went to the club shop last week to buy a gift voucher.

Only to be told that we do not do gift vouchers anymore.

When questioned on why they wouldn't do gift vouchers anymore they were told "Because if you come back with it in a couple of weeks we can't promise that you'll be able to use it"

I have absolutely no idea why. A couple of weeks would roughly coincide with when we have to submit the accounts? Or it could be something is happening that is going to cause big changes?

Any ideas welcome..

We have to have more players. 

It's really that simple.

We need Jagielka, and Mengi then the options at centre half are fine.

But more so now we absolutely need another striker and a winger.

5-6 more and we can compete.

7 hours ago, RadioactiveWaste said:

So, I watched the video of his press conference.

He's very certain we need more players. He is also certain that we have very good players and we are not underdogs.

He's never been a natural at the madia side has he. Still, if we win a few games and team start believing that's what really matters.

He's not no.

But I watched that press conference back and I thought he came across brilliantly.

He's handled it superbly.

He's not moaned, he's back his players to the hilt, praised them for working so hard, refused to call them underdogs, turned questions that had no relevance to us into humour, stated how happy he us, refused to offer any excuses. 

But all the time saying we need more players. It's a constant message.

2 minutes ago, dcfcreece1601 said:

Is he lying then about wanting these to keep the fans happy? Why would he say that ?‍♂️

I don't know. It could be he's just reeled them off and not realised. Or he didn't want to say anything before Aluko to Ipswich had been announced. Although he could have said that Aluko is on his way to another club.

Rooney has said today that he still wants to sign Jagielka, Morrison, Baldock and Aluko.

Just seen Aluko's interview with Ipswich and he signed for them yesterday.

I'll reserve judgement till the end of August I think.

If there are no more signings and this is our squad for the rest of the season then we'll be cut adrift in the bottom 3 by Christmas.

If somehow things can get sorted and we can sign Morrison, Aluko (Not fussed about Baldock) and somehow manage to get Mengi, Delap and Garner in then we'll be absolutely fine and comfortably mid table. Not to mention getting Bielik and Knight back around Oct/Nov.

At the minute though I can't see how on earth that happens. 

But one way or another these accounts have got to be submitted by the 18th. So we'll probably know more then.

6 minutes ago, Ellafella said:

Agree. Baldock is out of his depth. 

I don't think we're in a position to be picky.

We're an hour away from my 65 year old Dad playing centre back tomorrow.